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Time Gears End Credits's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Composition quality | #10 | 3.812 | 3.812 |
| Production quality | #12 | 3.875 | 3.875 |
| Overall | #12 | 3.575 | 3.575 |
| Match to the brief | #13 | 3.625 | 3.625 |
| Overall enjoyment | #13 | 3.562 | 3.562 |
| Memorability | #15 | 3.000 | 3.000 |
Ranked from 16 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
I attempted to follow all 5 prompts.
Description of the game:
Time Gears is a 3d action adventure that starts out feeling like Tomb Raider, but with the unlocking of steampunk tools, the late game adds a touch of a Metroidvania feeling.
Musical context:
The track plays after reaching the intended end of the game during the credit roll.
Creative decisions:
The beginning of the track is supposed to carry a bittersweet feeling to give the player a moment to reminisce on the end of the game and what it took to get there. The track then picks up the pace (literally speeding up), going for an epic/heroic feeling for the remainder of the track. I tried to make it sound like it's a bit of a collage of musical cues (e.g. some variations of motifs associated with certain characters and/or areas in the game).
URL to Streaming Service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rthsKac_2U
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Comments
I like the beginning that repeats the melody, then pause at the highest, then continues with a change (adding instruments, etc). It feels like a build up that pays off at 0:38.
The energetic part is effective with the strings, feels adventurous, while continuing with the melody, it adds another dimension. It really feels like a credits roll. I also appreciate the violin at 1:33, it's fun.
I saw in other comments you had trouble with the ending and it feels like coming out of nowhere. I think if you had repeated the melody from 2:10 to 2:12 on the brass, then added another instrument like strings or something else that repeats the same melody a second time ; then a third time with another instrument, maybe you could have get that ending more smoothly with a build up that make us expect the ending (in a good way). And extending the ending also could have been better.
Overall, it's an enjoyable piece of music !
Thanks for listening and the suggestion - I really like the idea of repeating this one dramatic phrase a few times, spreading it out to other instruments to build up to a final chord, I'll certainly use that in the future.
Hey, I've just listened to your track!
I really liked the calm opening, which sets the tone for the rest of the piece very well. I loved the more energetic section too; it has a great cinematic, almost superhero-like feel, and I can easily imagine it playing during the end credits.
One thing I was wondering: was the bass rhythm meant to imitate a steam train? If so, that's a really nice touch.
Even if I try, I can't really find anything to criticize.
Really great work!
Good luck with the rest of the voting period!
Thanks for your comment, sadly I was not thinking of a steam train before you mentioned it... or rather... yes, that is exactly what I was going for! Great that you caught that! *ahem*
For real, that is a great idea though, and if I'd had some more time, I probably would have used some sound effects for some musical world building. Next time.
I think that the tempo change with that chugging bass line was a great idea, immediately perked me up! Although to echo some others the end did feel a bit abrupt, but I thought the beginning and transition to more energy was well put together. Very nice job and I think very fitting for an end credits to a game!
Thank you, like I said in another comment, I was trying to lead into the end by reducing the bass/cello line to just two notes, but that alone did not achieve the intended effect of preparing the listener for the end. I may revisit this piece now that the jam is over (and I have more time on my hands) to put a proper end section on there.
(Submission 4/29 - "Time Gears End Credits" by CuyGuy)
The spiccato section is really cool and well-composed, as well as your usage of the Dorian mode! It really makes the piece feel heroic! Your sense of melody is quite wonderful and it really brought the piece together!
One thing I am noticing is that there are some elements that are clipping in the left ear, although I would assume this isn't your fault as I noticed from a previous comment of yours that you were deaf in your left ear. At 1:50, the melody becomes somewhat random and unplanned, which I don't think was the intended result, but that's just how it felt for me.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed listening to your piece and I'm excited for what you plan on doing next! Thanks CuyGuy!
Yeah, bedroom producer who can't always use speakers here, and while I'm not deaf in the left ear, my hearing loss is ranging from 50 to 100 dB and my hearing aid can't really compensate for that in a way that lets me properly judge music (also a big reason why I'm doing a lot of stuff with orchestra, because then the stereo imaging is part of the library and I don't have to attempt to pan in mono).
Around 1:50 I was trying to lead into the ending and I did that by reducing the bassline from this four note sequence to just three measures of D and one measure of C and I tried to keep using the musical ideas I had used earlier in a more varied harmonic context. Re-listening now with fresh ears a few days later, I totally get how that feels random. Thanks for pointing that out.
Thanks for listening and enjoying!
The use of Dorian mode is awasome
I'm just hammering on the raised sixth until nobody wants to hear that anymore XD.
Thanks for your kind words <3
I love the beginning and the entrance into second section, very immersive. I don't rly have any criticism apart from I feel like the ending comes out of nowhere a little bit. Could maybe have a longer build up but over all I think it's very atmospheric.
Thanks, the end was the bit I was struggling with the most. Sadly I was running out of (personal) time I could commit to the track and had to bring it to an end.